Page:Plays by Anton Tchekoff (1916).djvu/206

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. [Tenderly] Make your peace with him, too. Don’t fight with him. You surely won’t fight?

. I won’t, but you must not insist on my seeing him again, mother, I couldn’t stand it. [ comes in] There he is; I am going. [He quickly puts the medicines away in the cupboard] The doctor will attend to my head.

. [Looking through the pages of a book] Page 121, lines 11 and 12; here it is. [He reads] “If at any time you should have need of my life, come and take it.”

picks up the bandage off the floor and goes out.

. [Looking at her watch] The carriage will soon be here.

. [To himself] If at any time you should have need of my life, come and take it.

. I hope your things are all packed.

. [Impatiently] Yes, yes. [In deep thought] Why do I hear a note of sadness that wrings my heart in this cry of a pure soul? If at any time you should have need of my life, come and take it. [To ] Let us stay here one more day!

shakes her head.

. Do let us stay!

. I know, dearest, what keeps you here, but you must control yourself. Be sober; your emotions have intoxicated you a little.

. You must be sober, too. Be sensible; look upon what has happened as a true friend would. [Taking her hand] You are capable of self-sacrifice. Be a friend to me and release me!

. [In deep excitement] Are you so much in love?

. I am irresistibly impelled toward her. It may be that this is just what I need.